Potted Mums

No matter whether they live in the ground or in a vase, mums are very hearty flowers that can live a long time. However, when growing mums, it is important to give them proper care so they can reach their peak. With planted in the optimal location and given proper care, your mums will grow year after year! Here are some tips for caring for your mums.

Location

These flowers need at least 6 hours of sun a day. If they do not get enough sun, they will be tall and leggy and produce fewer, smaller flowers. Try to not plant them alongside your house or garage if that area is typically shaded.

Soil

Mums thrive in well-drained soil. If your yard is soggy after the lightest rain, try growing your mums in a raised bed with friable soil. If your soil is too dense, add compost. Mums roots are shallow and they don’t like competition. When planting them, plant them 1 inch deeper than they were in the nursery pot and carefully spread the roots.

Water

Newly planted mums need to be water thoroughly. They should never be allowed to wilt. Once they have grown, give them about 1 inch of water per week. When their bottom leaves are starting to limp or turn brown, water them more often. However, avoid soaking the foliage as this can encourage disease.

Overwintering

Mums should be prepared for winter after the first hard frost. Mulch up to 4 inches and fill in around the entire plant, spreading between branches. Dead blooms should be pinched off, but branches should stay intact. They have a better chance of surviving if you wait to prune old stems until spring. When the weather warms, trim off the previous year’s stems as soon as new growth begins to show.

Decorating

Mums can be easily trimmed and placed as decoration around your home. They still have a long lifespan when cut as long as they are taken care of properly. Change the water in the vase daily and keep them in a cool area of your home. You can also place mums in pots, a window box, or in a mixed container with other plants. Mums are also perfect additions to any garden. Most mums will withstand a light fall frost, so coordinate bloom time with the length of fall in your area.